Planter and fertilizer-distributer.



No. 800,476. PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905. M. R. NORMAN.

PLANTBR AND FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTBR. APPLICATION FILED JAN. '31. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 800,476. PATBNTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

. M. R. NORMAN.

PLANTBR AND FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION rum) JAN. 31. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PLANTER AND FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Sept. 26, 1905.

Application filed January 31, 1905. Serial No. 243,525.

To (til whom, it ntcty concern/.-

Be it known that 1, Moscow R. NORMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Montgomery, in the county of Montgomery and State ofAlabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plantersand FertiliZer-Distributers, of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an implement of novelstructure which may be used either as a cultivator, afertilizer-distributor, or a planter, or for any combination thereoffThe implement comprises a frame consisting of beams and standardsadapted to receive shovels of any type, a hopper for receivingfertilizer, and operating means for effecting a positive discharge offertilizer at predetermined intervals and in regulable quantities, saidhopper and operating means being detachably fitted to the frame of theimplement, so as to be laid aside when the device is to be used in thecapacity of a cultivator solely.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodimentthereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of an implement fully rigged and embodying theessential features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of theimplement stripped of the hopper and operating means. Fig. 3 is a viewof the implement in side elevation, a portion of the grain-hopper andgrain-wheel being broken away. Fig. A is a transverse section of theimplement on the line a of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of thearrows. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 1 y of Fig. 3; andFig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the shaft provided with thegrain-wheel, fertilizer-distributer, and agitators.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The frame of the implement comprises a middle beam 1 and similar sidebeams 2, the latter being converged at their front ends and secured toopposite sides of the middle beam 1. The rear portions of the severalbeams are curved downward to form standards to which are attachedshovels 3 of any design, according to the special work to be performed.The middle beam 1 is extended forward of the beams 2 and is curvedupward and transversely apertured and is adapted to have the draftapplied thereto in the usual manner. Handle-bars 1 are connected attheir lower ends to the beams 2 and are supported by means of braces 5.The beams 2 are adapted to be spread more or less, according to therequired transverse distance of the rear shovels 3, and for this purposerods 6 are provided and have their end portions threaded and passedthrough openings of the beams 2 and supplied with pairs of set-nuts 7.By proper manipulation of the set-nuts 7 the distance between the rearends of the beams 2 may be regulated within certain limits.

It is proposed to regulate the depth of operation of the rear shovels,and this is accomplished by means of runners 8, which are pivotallyconnected at their front ends to the rear standards and are adjustablevertically at their rear ends by means of braces 9, which haveadjustable connection with the rear standards in any determinate way.

The fertilizer-distributer comprises a hopper 10, which is detachablyconnected to the frame of the implement in any manner and, as shown, isprovided with pendent lugs 11, through which the rods 6 pass. A spout12,

pendent from the hopper 10, is in communication at its upper end withsaid hopper by means of an opening 13, formed in the bottom thereof. Ashaft 14: is journaled in side portions of the hopper and is preventedfrom longitudinal displacement by means of setcollars 15, securedthereto and arranged to engage with the innerwalls of the hopper. Adistributer or feeder is secured to the shaft 14 and consists of a hub16 and arms or blades 17, threaded or otherwise connected at their innerends to the hub 16 in order to admit of their ready detachment. Byremoval of all of the arms or blades 17, with the exception of one,fertilizer will be distributed once during each revolution of the shaft1 1. By leaving arms or blades at opposite points'fertilizer will bedeposited twice during each revolution of the shaft 14:. Agitators 18are fitted to the shaft 14 at each side of the feeder and stir thefertilizer to prevent its sticking in the hopper and insure positivefeed thereof. A sprocket-wheel 19 is secured to the projecting end ofthe shaft 14 and motion is imparted thereto by means of a sprocketchain20 from a companion sprocket-wheel 21, fast upon the axle 22 ofground-Wheel 23. The axle 22 is journaled in bearings at the lower endsof standards 24, the latter being stayed by means of braces 25. Fordepositing grain a distributing-wheel 26 is fast upon the opposite endportion of shaft 14 and is inclosed by means of a casing 27, having anopening at the top and bottom, said casing being secured to a side ofthe hopper-frame, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. Aspout 28 connectsthe lower portion of the casing 27 with a side of the spout ,12 tosupply grain thereto. A hopper 29, attached to the same side of thehopper 10 as the casing 27, receives the grain to be planted. Thedistributing or grain wheel 26 is provided in its periphery with aseries of pockets or openings for reception of the grain to bedeposited. The pockets or openings 30 are of different capacity,according to the nature and amount of grain to be deposited in a hill.Inasmuch as all the pockets are not used at one time, those not in useare closed by plugs 31,which may be of any material and held in placeina manner to admit of their ready removal, yet

prevent their casual displacement.

The opening 13 in the bottom of the hopper 10 is adapted to be regulatedby means of a cut-off 32, the same consisting of a plate slidablymounted with reference to the hopper and adapted to be secured in alocated position.

For cultivating, the hopper 10 and operating mechanism are removed, andthe implement Will appear asillustrated in Fig. 2. For sowing fertilizerthe implement will appear as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the fertilizerbeing supplied to. the hopper 10. If grain only is to be dropped, thehopper 29 is charged, and if both fertilizer and grain are to be droppedthe hoppers 10 and 29 are supplied, as indicated in Fig. 4.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is Incombination longitudinal beams provided with shovel-blades, a hopperprovided with a spout, means for securing the hopper to said beams andconnecting the latter a shaft journaled in opposite sides of the hopperand provided with a force-feeder and agitators, agrain-wheel fast uponthe projecting end of said shaft, a casing inclosing said grain-wheel, aspout leading from said casing and in communication with the spout ofthe first-mentioned hopper, a supplemental hopper in communication withthe upper portion of said. casing and attached to the same side of themain hopper with said casing, a ground-wheel and means fortransmittingmotion from said ground-wheel to the aforesaid shaft,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MOSCOW R. NORMAN.

\Vitnesses:

JOSEPH CALLAWAY, RICHARD H. JONES.

